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The European Union has presently 22 official languages. The Official Journal publishes every piece of EU legislation in each of these official languages. When the 27 European heads of government or the European Parliament meet, a host of interpreters enables them to listen and speak in their national language. The Commission operates in three working… » read more

Environment ministers from the G 8 and 10 major emerging countries met in the Kobe, Japan, on May 24-26 in view of preparing the Hokkaido G 8 Summit in July that will focus on climate policy.The outcome has been disappointing. Ministers have not even been able to agree on reducing greenhouse gases by at least… » read more

This is the message that nine internationally renowned climate scientists address to the world after a thorough analysis of palaeo-climate data. The C02 content in the atmosphere has increased from 280 ppm in pre-industrial times to 385 ppm today. A quarter of the C02 emitted stays in the atmosphere for several centuries, cumulating with any… » read more

Wind power is the most successful renewable energy, leaving aside hydro power for which it is becoming increasingly difficult to find suitable sites in Europe and the USA. By the end of 2008 the globally installed capacity of wind power will exceed 100 GW, the equivalent of 50 nuclear power plants, if we take into… » read more

EU agriculture has successfully passed its “health check” which governments had asked for in December 2005 when allotting it the biggest slice of EU budget expenditures 2007-13. Never before since the start of the common agricultural policy has Europe’s agriculture been in such a good shape as today. Forgotten are three decades of milk lakes,… » read more

After 20 years of pause, Europe rediscovers nuclear energy. Chernobyl seems forgotten. The steeply rising prices for oil, gas and coal make nuclear energy much more attractive than during the 1990s. Above all, politicians realise that they might be unable to meet 2020 EU targets for C02 emissions without a gentle push from C02 –… » read more

After several days of intense negotiations, the conflicting Lebanese parties have reached a compromise that may help the country return to a minimum of internal stability. They have agreed on General Michel Suleiman to be elected as the Lebanese President within the coming few days and to form a coalition government with a total of… » read more

A barrel of oil todaycosts more than twice the price a year ago and 10 times as much as 10 years ago. Since the 1970s we have not seen such a steep price increase in such a short time. Understandably, this worries many people. Central bankers worry about the impact on inflation. The price of… » read more

The Foreign ministers of Brazil, China, India and Russia have met in Yekaterinburg on May 15-16 for what may have been a historic gathering. They discussed global issues, from the financial crisis to climate change, and decided to meet regularly, next time in September in New York at the margin of the UN general assembly,… » read more

In February 2008, the construction of the first sustainable city that is expected to run completely on solar and wind energy has been formally launched. Not in Europe, Japan or USA, but in the middle of the Arabian desert, 35 km away from Abu Dhabi City. We better remember its name: Masdar, the “source”; we… » read more

Thoughts on energy and climate, the Mediterranean and whatever comes to mind.

About: Rhein on Energy and Climate

Eberhard Rhein has devoted most of his life to European and global issues. During the 1980s and 1990s, he served successively as chef de cabinet to the Commission VP in charge of external relations and director responsible for the Mediterrranean and Arab world.

For the past 10 years he has focused more on global environmental issues.

He also gives a course on economic policy at the "Mediterranean Academy for Diplomatic Studies" in Malta. He is the author of many articles on EU, Mediterranean and international subjects